Military Review English Edition May-June 2014 | Page 82

To cite an example, the narrative describes the complicated and often fractious relationship between three of the greatest World War II commanders, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bernard Montgomery, and George S. Patton. As Atkinson uncovers, grumbling, backbiting, and spitefulness were a routine part of the Anglo-American relationship and everyday coalition life. However, it is the tension between Montgomery—one of the most controversial leaders of World War II—and Eisenhower—the Supreme Allied Commander and Montgomery’s overall boss—that is most evident throughout the manuscript. Th